Clamping device including lateral adjustment means thereon

ABSTRACT

A clamping device is provided having a pair of adjustable members for gripping and clamping a surface therebetween. A bolt is threaded through an aperture formed on one of the members for laterally aligning an element adjacent the surface being clamped by the members. In this manner, an element such as an angle iron may be moved into position on a clamped surface such as a flat bar prior to welding the element to the surface.

United States Patent [1 1 Minera July 17, 1973 [54] CLAMPING DEVICE INCLUDING LATERAL 2,606,583 8/1952 OjConnor 269/41 X ADJUSTMENT MEANS THEREON 3,245,678 4/1966 Riehle 3,469,299 9/1969 Rogers 29/200 P Salvador A. Minera, 1921 Taraual St., San Francisco, Calif. 94116 Filed: June 9, 1971 Appl. N0.: 151,290

Inventor:

US. Cl 29/271, 269/315, 228/4, 269/271 Int. Cl B25b 27/14 Field of Search 269/37, 41, 45, 97, 269/304, 315, 305, 271', 228/57, 4; 29/200 P, 203 P, 271, 464, 283; 8l/5.l R; 81/420 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1910 Jensen 269/97 X 6/1928 Hyler 269/37 X Primary ExaminerRobert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner.l. C. Peters Attorney-Mellin, Moore & Weissenberger [57] ABSTRACT A clamping device is provided having a pair of adjustable members for gripping and clamping a surface therebetween. A bolt is threaded through an aperture formed on one of the members for laterally aligning an element adjacent the surface being clamped by the members. In this manner, an element such as an angle iron may be moved into position on a clamped surface such as a flat bar prior to welding the element to the surface. 7

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F|G 11 SALVADOR A. MINERA ll5 BY 7)L@Z&,L,- W PW I ATTORNEYS CLAMPING DEVICE INCLUDING LATERAL ADJUSTMENT MEANS THEREON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to clamping devices, and more particularly, to a device for gripping and clamping a first element therebetween while laterally adjusting a second element with respect to the first element.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices are known in the art for gripping and clamping bars, fiat surfaces, etc. These devices generally take the form of C-shaped clamps, vice grip pliers, etc. In some cases, it is desired to grasp and clamp a first element, such as a flat bar, then align a second element, such as an angle iron, in position on the bar prior to welding the iron to the bar. However, although such elements may be manually aligned, minute adjustments are difficult to make and require a setup and checking approach until the desired position is reached.

There therefore exists a need for a quick method for aligning such elements together. Such means should be able to align one element at any desired angle to another. Further, such means should be relatively inexpensive, simple to use and accurate for the purposes intended.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a device for gripping and clamping a first element while permitting lateral adjustment of a second element with respect to the first element.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device which permits adjustment of the second element at any desired angular relation with respect to the first element.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide such a device which can be inexpensively manufactured, is simple to use and is adapted to be used with certain existing clamping devices.

These and other objects are preferably accomplished by providing a device having a pair of adjustable members for gripping and clamping a surface therebetween. A bolt is threadedthrough an aperture formed on one of the members for laterally aligning anelement adjacent the surface being clamped by the members. In this manner, an element such as an angle iron may be moved into position on a clamped surface such as a flat bar prior to welding the element to the surface.

Various embodiments are presented. More than one aperture may be used extending in various directions to thereby compensate for different positions of the element being welded. Spring biasing means may be used to securely hold the element being welded in position on the surface being clamped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of a clamping device in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1 as used FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified upper gripping surface of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmented vertical side view of still another modification of the clamping device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are end views of still other modifications of the clamping device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the modification of FIG. 10, and

FIG. 12 is a vertical side view of another embodiment of a clamping device in accordance with my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a clamping device 10 is shown in the general configuration of a pair of vice grip pliers or the like. Thus, device 10 includes a pair of upper and lower levers II and 12, respectively. Upper lever 11 is pivotally joined at its forward end to a lower gripping member 13, at pivot point 14. Thus, upper lever 11 and lower gripping member 13 form a pair of gripping surfaces 15 and 16, respectively. These surfaces 15 and 16 may be serrated or the like, as at teeth 17, so as to provide a positive grip for elements being clasped by surfaces 15 and 16. Lower gripping member 13 is in turn pivotally joined at pivot point 18 to lower lever 12.

Adjustment of the distance between gripping surfaces 15 and 16 is provided by means of a spring 18 joined at one end to a hook 19 on the inner surface of upper lever 11 and at the other end to an aperture 20 in lower gripping member 13. A connecting member 21 is pivotally joined at pivot point 22 to lever 12 and at the upper end thereof is pivotally joined to a U-shaped member 23. Member 23 has a portion (not shown) slidable within one end of a threaded bolt 24 which includes a bolt head 25 extending out of upper lever l I. In this manner, bolt 24 may be turned to pivot about point 22 to move surfaces 15 and 16 together. Thus, device 10 may grip a bar or flat surface or the like, then locked into clamping position by squeezing members 11 and 12.

Such a device is well known in the art and forms no particular part of my invention. Thus, any suitable gripping and clamping device may be used. Accordingly, the particular inventive feature of my device will now be described. However, such feature may be applied to various clamping devices, one other example of which will be given further hereinbelow.

Thus, a threaded aperture 26 (see also FIG. 2) is formed in upper lever 11. A bolt 27 having a bolt head 28 is threaded within aperture 26. It can be seen that by turning bolt head 28, bolt 27 is laterally adjustable with respect to device 10.

In operation, with particular reference to FIG. 2, it is frequently necessary in the assembly of many machines or the like to make extremely small lateral adjustments when spot-welding or the like. For example, it may be desired to weld an angle iron to a flat bar. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, device 10 is clamped onto flat bar 29 in the manner set forth hereinabove. Arrow 30 on flat bar 29 indicates the point at which it is desired to spotweld the angle iron 31 to bar 29. This arrow 30 may be a line or the like drawn on bar 29 to indicate the exact location desired. In order to move angle iron 31 on bar 29 to the right that is, in the direction of arrow 32 so that the iron 31 may be spot-welded at point or arrow 30 such minute adjustment may be accomplished by merely turning bolt head 28 until it abuts against angle iron 31 at point 33, then further turning head 28 until angle iron 31 is aligned with point or arrow 30. At this time, spot-welding or the like of iron 31 to bar 29 may be carried out.

During all of the foregoing, bar 29 is firmly clamped within the gripping surfaces 15 and 16 of device 10. The minute adjustment of angle iron 31 on bar 29 is carried out quickly and easily in a more accurate manner than mere manual alignment would accomplish.

Although aperture 26 and bolt 27 is shown on upper lever 11, which forms the upper gripping member of device 10, obviously such aperture and bolt may be located on lower gripping member 13 which includes lower lever 12. This is shown in FIG. 3 wherein a plurality of such apertures are shown with the bolts in most cases omitted for convenience of illustration (i.e., the bolts could obviously be interchangeable within the particular aperture desired).

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein like numerals refer to like parts of FIG. 1, a plurality of spaced threaded apertures 33, 34 are formed in lower gripping member 13 and a plurality of spaced apertures 35, 36 are formed in the upper gripping member (i.e., lever 11). Obviously, the particular number and placement of apertures 33 through 36 is a matter of choice. However, preferably apertures 35 and 36 are vertically aligned for reasons to be discussed hereinbelow with respect to FIG. 9. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, similar apertures may extend in a direction substantially normal to apertures 35 and 36. Thus, as shown particularly in FIG. 4, a bolt 37 is threaded in upper aperture 35 while a bolt 38 may be threaded within an aperture 39 crosswise to aperture 35 (of course, both bolts may not be inserted at the same time). In this manner, various alignments similar to those discussed with respect to FIG. 1 may be accomplished.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the apertures in lever 11 may not be necessarily vertically aligned as shown by apertures 40 and 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in addition to one or more apertures such as 33 and 34 which may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of surfaces 16 and 17, a threaded aperture 43 may extend normal to aperture 42 and parallel to the plane formed by gripping surfaces 15 and 16.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, wherein only lever l 1 is shown, the apertures 45 and 46 formed therein may extend at an angle with respect to a plane normal to the plane formed by gripping surfaces 15, 16. Thus, bolt 47, threaded in aperture 45, extends through lever 11 at both an angular relationship with regard to aperture 46 e.g., at an angle of about 45 with respect to aperture 46 and also parallel to the plane of gripping surfaces 15, 16.

As shown in FIG. 8, wherein primed numerals refer to like parts of FIGS. 1 through 7, a socket 48 may be formed or otherwise associated with upper lever 11'. Socket 48 is adapted to receive ball 49 therein and retain it in place. Ball 49 is adapted to extend into a position whereby it comes into contact with member 50. Member 50 may be separable from device and is generally of a configuration whereby it has a cavity 51 on its upper surface for receiving ball 49 therein when gripping surfaces and 16' are clamped into position. Of course, any suitable locking means may be provided. Thus, ball 49 is locked" into position by abutment of member 50 and remains stationary when device 10' is clamped as discussed hereinabove.

Ball 49 has a threaded aperture 52 extending therethrough for receiving a threaded bolt therein (not shown). Thus, a universal pivot is provided whereby various angular lateral adjustments may be made via baIl-and-socket 48, 49 when device 10' is clamped into position.

Still other modifications of my invention are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thus, in FIG. 9, a clamping device is shown similar to device 10 of FIG. 1. A bar 101 or the like is shown clamped between upper and lower gripping members 102 and 103. An aperture 104 extends through upper gripping member 102 and has a bolt 105 threaded therethrough all in the manner of device 10 of FIG. 1. However, in this modification, a laterally extending extension portion 106 is secured or otherwise integral with the top of upper gripping member 102. Obviously, this portion 106 may extend on either side of gripping member 102 or even be movable relative thereto and locked into the desired position. Portion 106 thus extends generally normal to the plane formed by gripping members 103 and 104 and generally parallel to the surface being gripped (i.e., bar 101). A threaded aperture 107 is formed in extension portion 106 and a bolt 108 is threaded therein. A spring 109 may be disposed between extension portion 106 and the element being welded to bar 101 (here, angle iron 110). If desired, one end of this spmg 109 may be spotwelded as at weld 111 to extension portion 106. The other end of spring 109 preferably does not extend below the upper surface of bar 101 in its uncompressed state. The tension of spring 109 is selected so that it maintains angle iron 110 in a relatively stable position on bar 101 prior to welding. The spring 109 surrounds the portion of bolt 109 between angle iron 1 l0 and extension portion 106.

In operation, device 100 is clamped onto bar 101 as discussed hereinabove. Angle iron 110 is located on bar 101 and bolt 108 and spring 109 is placed in the position shown in FIG. 9 to hold iron 110 in fixed position relative to bar 101. Bolt 105 may be used to align the end of angle iron 110 with a point on bar 101 (indicated by arrow 112).

If desired, a clamping device similar to device 10 of FIG. 1 may also be clamped to bar 101 on the other side of device 100. In addition, device 100 may include a plurality of threaded apertures in the manner discussed hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 3 through 8. Further, the ball-and-socket means of the device of FIG. 8 may be applied to device 100.

Another modification of clamping device 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Here, device 113 includes upper and lower gripping members 1 l4 and 115 having a bar 116 clamped therebetween. One or more threaded apertures, aperture 117, for example, extends through upper gripping member 1 14 and has a bolt 118 threaded therein, all in the manner discussed hereinabove with respect to the device of FIG. 1.

An extension portion 119 is secured to or otherwise integral with upper gripping member 114 and extends in a direction substantially parallel to bar 116 as shown. An aperture is formed in extension portion 119 and has a bolt 120 threaded therein. The end of portion 119 may be enlarged, as shown, if desired. An element is shown disposed on bar 116, such as a block 121. Block 121 has an aperture 122 extending therethrough having a bolt 123 extending therethrough. Bolt head 124 is at the top of block 121 and the lower end thereof extends through a slot 125 or the like in bar 116. It is desired to properly align the lower end of bolt 123 in slot 125 before threading nut 126 thereon. As can be seen in FIG. 10, abutment of block 121 by means of both bolts 118 and 120 would move block 121 along bar 116 to its desired location.

As discussed hereinabove with respect to the clamp ing device 100 of FIG. 9, obviously various apertures and a ball-and-socket arrangement may be also provided on device 113 of FIGS. and 11.

It has been stated hereinabove that the concepts of my invention are not limited to the clamping device 10 of FIG. 1. Thus, the techniques of my invention may be adapted to a conventional C-clamp or the like, such as clamp 53 of FIG. 12. Clamp 53 includes a main C- shaped body portion 54 having a threaded aperture 55 formed in one leg 56 of body portion 54. An adjustable bolt 57 having a bolt head 58 at one end and'a lower gripping and clamping member 59 at the other end is threaded in aperture 55. The other leg 60 forms an upper gripping member whereby a bar 61 or the like may be clamped between upper and lower gripping members 59 and 60, respectively. A lever 62 passes through an aperture 63 formed in bolt head 58 for tuming bolt 57 within aperture 55 (and thus adjusting clamp 53 to grip or clamp it to bar 61). Again, the foregoing has described a conventional clamp which may be adapted to carry out the techniques of my invention.

Thus, a threaded aperture 64 is formed in lower gripping member 59 similar to aperture 26 of FIG. 2. This aperture 64 also extends generally parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces 65 and 66 formed by upper and lower gripping members 59 and 60, respectively. In like manner, a second threaded aperture 67 may also be formed in lower gripping member 59 spaced from aperture 64. A third aperture 68 having bolt 68 threaded therein may extend generally normal to aperture 67 and also generally parallel to the plane of gripping surfaces 65 and 66. Of course, any number of such apertures may be provided extending at any desired angle as discussed hereinabove with regard to FIGS. 1 through 8. Also, a ball-and-socket arrangement may be provided on either gripping members 59 and 60 as discussed hereinabove with regard to FIG. 8. In that case, however, the member would have to be enlarged to provide for means for locking the ball in a stationary position within its socket (not shown).

Leg 60 may be provided with an extension portion 69 on the upper surface thereof. This portion 69 may also include a plurality of spacedthreadedapertures. Thus, vertically aligned apertures 70 through 72 may be provided generally parallel to the plane of gripping surfaces 65, 66. Like apertures73 through 75 may also be provided extending generally normal to apertures 70 through 72 (in the manner of the apertures of FIG. 4) and also generally parallel to the plane of gripping surfaces 65, 66.

As shown in FIG. 12, bolts 76 and 77 are threaded in apertures 73 and 75, respectively. These bolts may vary in overall length, if desired. Assuming that it is desired to spot-weld element 78 to bar 61 at a desired angle thereto, bolts 76 and 77 may be moved varying lengths to their dotted line positions 76' and 77 until they abut against element 78 and move it a minute distance until the desired angle is reached. At this point, element 78 may be readily welded to bar 61. This feature of the device of FIG. 9 also applies to the device of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Again, one or more ball-and-socket arrangements (not shown) may be provided on leg 60 in the manner of the arrangement of FIG. 8. Any suitable means may be provided for holding such ball stationary within its socket, such.as a threaded set-screw or the like (not shown) extending through extension portion 69 into contact with the ball. Also, the particular number and angular relation of apertures through may be varied in the manner discussed hereinabove with regard to FIGS. 1 through 8.

It can be seen from the foregoing that I have described a relatively economical and simple arrangement whereby a clamping device may be used to align certain elements with the element being clamped. Although various embodiments have been set forth, the basic concept is that adjustment means is provided on the device for vertically aligning such elements in a manner permitting relatively minute lateral adjustments.

I claim:

1. A clamping device comprising:

a pair of upper and lower elongated levers, the upper lever pivotally connected at one end to a lower gripping member and the lower lever also pivotally connected at one end to a point on said lower gripping member remote from the point of connection of said upper lever thereto;

gripping means disposed onvboth said upper lever and said gripping member for grasping an element clamped'by said device when said upper and lower levers and said lower gripping member are pivoted together, said gripping means including a first gripping surface on said upper lever and a second gripping surface on said lower gripping member, both of said surfaces being moved into juxtaposed relationship when said upper and lower levers and said lower gripping member are pivoted together;

means operatively connected to all of said upper and lower levers and said lower gripping member for varying the distance between said gripping surfaces, locking said upper lever and said lower gripping member against said element when said element is gripped between said gripping surfaces, and quickly releasing said element after gripping said element between said gripping surface,

a first threaded aperture extending through said upper lever in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping member and generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said upper lever; 1

a second threaded aperture extending in a direction substantially normal to said first-mentioned aperture and substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping member; and

an elongated threaded bolt removably threaded into each of said apertures of a length greater than the overall length of said apertures.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said apertures lie in the same plane.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said bolts include a bolt head at one end thereof for adjusting said bolt with respect to said aperture.

elongated threaded aperture extending through the lower gripping member in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping member; and

an elongated threaded bolt of a length greater than said last-mentioned aperture removably threaded into said last-mentioned aperture.

1: a a: a: 

1. A clamping device comprising: a pair of upper and lower elongated levers, the upper lever pivotally connected at one end to a lower gripping member and the lower lever also pivotally connected at one end to a point on said lower gripping member remote from the point of connection of said upper lever thereto; gripping means disposed on both said upper lever and said gripping member for grasping an element clamped by said device when said upper and lower levers and said lower gripping member are pivoted together, said gripping means including a first gripping surface on said upper lever and a second gripping surface on said lower gripping member, both of said surfaces being moved into juxtaposed relationship when said upper and lower levers and said lower gripping member are pivoted together; means operatively connected to all of said upper and lower levers And said lower gripping member for varying the distance between said gripping surfaces, locking said upper lever and said lower gripping member against said element when said element is gripped between said gripping surfaces, and quickly releasing said element after gripping said element between said gripping surface; a first threaded aperture extending through said upper lever in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping member and generally normal to the longitudinal axis of said upper lever; a second threaded aperture extending in a direction substantially normal to said first-mentioned aperture and substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping member; and an elongated threaded bolt removably threaded into each of said apertures of a length greater than the overall length of said apertures.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said apertures lie in the same plane.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said bolts include a bolt head at one end thereof for adjusting said bolt with respect to said aperture.
 4. The device of claim 1 further including a plurality of threaded apertures extending through said upper lever, at least two of said plurality of apertures extending in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping mem-ber and at least two of said plurality of apertures extending in a direction substantially normal to the first-mentioned two apertures.
 5. The device of claim 1 further including at least one elongated threaded aperture extending through the lower gripping member in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the gripping surfaces of said upper lever and said lower gripping member; and an elongated threaded bolt of a length greater than said last-mentioned aperture removably threaded into said last-mentioned aperture. 